POS1172 GEOGRAPHICAL VARIABILITY OF ORGAN DAMAGE BURDEN IN A LARGE INTERNATIONAL MULTICENTER COHORT OF PATIENTS WITH BEHÇET’S SYNDROME: PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF THE PROBE STUDY
Authors: A. Floris, S. Chadli, A. Lamouna, M. T. Hegazy, Y. Yagiz Ozogul, Y. Ozguler, L. Serpa Pinto, M. Alikhani, L. Oliveira, J. Sota, G. Lopalco, D. Poddighe, N. Kougkas, A. Khabbazi Oskouei, R. Laconi, A. Wagner Silva de Souza, A. Lo Monaco, G. Espinosa, R. Butendieck, M. Govoni, B. Issayeva, F. Iannone, C. M. Fabiani, L. Cantarini, C. Vasconcelos, F. Shahram, J. Correia, Z. Tazi Mezalek, G. Ragab, L. Arnaud, A. Cauli, G. Hatemi, M. Piga
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2023)

<h3>Background</h3> A remarkable variability in the clinical course of Behçet's Syndrome (BS) seems to arise by comparing cohorts from different geographical areas. However, no data are currently available on the possible variability of organ damage burden, although it is currently recognized as a major outcome in BS. <h3>Objectives</h3> To evaluate and compare the extent, characteristics, and associated factors of organ damage in patients from different World areas. <h3>Methods</h3> We analyzed demographic and clinical data of a multicenter cohort of 935 consecutive BS patients from 11 Countries clustered in 5 geographic areas: Europe (EU, n 345), North Africa (NA, n 278), Middle East (ME, n 227), Central Asia (CA, n 44), America (AM, 41). Organ damage was assessed by the BS organ damage index (BODI) [1]. Uni- and multivariate analysis was performed to evaluate the association between the geographical region and organ damage using demographic and clinical data as covariates. <h3>Results</h3> Demographics and clinical features are reported in the Table 1. The prevalence of any damage (BODI≥1) in the EU, ME, NA, CA, and AM areas was 47.0%. 54.6%. 91.7%. 97.6% and 77.3%, respectively, whereas the mean (SD) total BODI score was 1.1 (1.7), 1.2 (1.7), 3.5 (2.4), 4.5 (2.6), and 1.9 (1.9). The prevalence of different BODI domains is reported in the Table 1. Significant differences were recorded in NA vs. EU and ME cohorts (Figure 1) (CA and AM not included in the statistical analysis for the small sample size). In multivariate analysis, the geographical area was independently associated (p &lt; 0.001) with damage (NA vs. EU OR 11.3; ME vs. EU OR 1.5). Male gender (OR 1.5; p = 0.004), age (OR 1.03 per year; p = 0.002), disease duration (1.03 per year; p = 0.003), ocular (OR 2.8; p &lt;0.001), vascular (OR 5.3, p &lt;0.001), and neuropsychiatric (OR 3.8, P&lt;0.001) involvement were also associated with BODI≥1. <h3>Conclusion</h3> A variable prevalence of organ damage was observed in BS patients from different World areas. Further research is needed to understand the cause underlying such geographic variability, as it may unveil biological, environmental, or health-system factors driving damage accrual in BS. The BODI effectively captures damage independently from the studied cohort's geographical origin. <h3>Reference</h3> [1]Piga M. Floris A. Espinosa G. et al. Development and preliminary validation of the Behçet's syndrome Overall Damage Index (BODI). RMD Open 2020;6:e001192. <h3>Acknowledgements:</h3> NIL. <h3>Disclosure of Interests</h3> None Declared.